West End homeless warming centre closed amid safety concerns

The temporary warming centre set up for homeless people in the West End community centre has been closed, after residents expressed safety concerns.

In a statement to Daily Hive, the Vancouver Park Board said concerns about the warming centre, which opened on December 17, began after the holidays.

“When normal programming resumed at the centres, it became increasingly challenging for staff and patrons to maintain these warming centre operations,” said spokesperson Margo Harper.

“We are not staffed to run 24 hours a day in these facilities and there were concerns from patrons about safety with transitions between warming centre operations at night and community centre programs in the morning.”

After discussions between the Park Board, centre staff, the City, and the West End Community Centre Association, the warming centre was closed on Wednesday night.

500 visits to West End warming centre

The warming centres, originally set up in Britannia, Creekside and West End community centres, are different to shelters, allowing visitors to come and go without registering.